I’m not processing this very well

Me too to this:

I think I just need some cheerful, stupid things. So I made this:

Original kitten picture from della-stock.deviantart.com. The finger monkey was on thisblogrules.com, although I doubt it originated there. And I think the cupcake was on wikipedia and ditto to its origin.

I will be watching “The Nutcracker” five times this season

It’s “Nutcracker” week. Poppy and her friends at the ballet studio have been preparing for this week for months, and she is so excited for things to get underway already. Me? ‘ll be putting my head down, chanting “keep it together, keep it together, keep it together” and just trying to get to Saturday. I can’t imagine how much this would all stress me out if I was actually in the show. All I have to do is get my properly attired dancer to the theater on time. And in order to make that happen, I had to do some ultra-simple meals this week. (As if I ever do anything else. But anyway.)

Monday: Chicken and dumplings

I’ve been using Campbell’s Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings recipe, and it’s dependably tasty. I use a can of cream of mushroom and a can of cream of celery in place of the two cans of cream of chicken soup, because the cream of chicken squigs me out a little.

Tuesday: Tacos

I’m hoping to get the ratio right on my seasoning this week so we don’t burn our taste buds off again. Taco Tuesday!

Wednesday: Tacos redux

I may be surreptitiously eating peanuts in the audience, but those members of the clan who aren’t at “The Nutcracker” will be feasting on leftover tacos.

Thursday: Ham & cheese sandwiches

Another night of “The Nutcracker” = another simple meal.

Friday: Pizza

I’ll either be eating out or ordering in to celebrate Surviving the Week.

A series of bone-headed events

Three days ago I tripped on my purse getting out of the car and landed on my face in the yard.

Two days ago we drove the kids over to Dollywood. Two days ago, Dollywood was not open.

Yesterday the kids and I went to the mall, and they wanted to say hello to Santa. There wasn’t a line, so I said, “Sure, kids! Let’s go see Santa!” And because there was no line, I decided to step over the border instead of taking the long way ’round. A great, lazy plan right up until my foot got caught on the chain and I nearly took down Santa’s village.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but that little incident was nothing.

“Water” by Andreas Levers
A few hours after I humiliated myself in front of Santa, his elves and dozens of festive shoppers, we decided to go Olive Garden for dinner. We sat down and ordered, we enjoyed some salad and bread sticks and Rockford was in the middle of telling me a story about some work-thing. I was paying attention, I promise, but the events that followed have swept exactly what it was he was talking about from my mind.

I picked up my glass. I took a sip of water. And then I couldn’t breathe. I must’ve been making a horrific noise, because the restaurant went silent and a nearby waiter was suddenly giving me the Heimlich maneuver.

Yeah, that’s right. I nearly drowned on a sip of water in the middle of a very busy Olive Garden.

Silver Lining: Now I have an answer to the question, “What is your most embarrassing moment?”